An outbreak of food poisoning linked to Taco Bell has affected over 1,600 individuals. Health authorities in five states have advised against consuming shredded iceberg lettuce due to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water. The confirmed cases related to Taco Bell outlets span across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, leading to 94 hospitalizations.
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to avoid food items containing shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in the affected states. Cyclosporiasis can result in severe gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea, with onset sometimes delayed up to two weeks. While 1,645 cases are linked to Taco Bell, the broader outbreak has impacted nearly 7,000 people nationwide.
Taco Bell has proactively removed lettuce supplied by an undisclosed vendor in the affected regions without specifying the vendor’s identity. The company mentioned taking immediate action based on discussions with public health authorities to eliminate the potentially affected lettuce. The impacted ingredient is being permanently withdrawn from the nationwide supply chain and will be replaced within 24 hours in certain states.
Although the specific states for lettuce removal were not disclosed, Michigan has reported the highest number of illnesses, exceeding 3,300 cases since the outbreak’s identification in May. Common symptoms include prolonged watery diarrhea, sudden weight loss, and decreased appetite. Tracing the parasite proves challenging, with potential difficulties exacerbated by reductions in federal health agency resources.
Steven Manderach, the executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, compared detecting the parasite to finding a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack rather than a standard needle search.